Essex counting cost of red tape

4:24pm Monday 7th April 2008

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The cost of new Government regulations to Essex businesses has reached nearly £2 billion.

The figure is from the British Chambers of Commerce's annual Burdens Barometer report, which highlights the cost implications to businesses of complying with an increasing amount of regulation.

It is a running total of the cost of regulation to businesses in the last decade.

Last year the running total sat at £1.6 billion and for 2008 it has reached £1.9 billion, said the Essex Chambers of Commerce.

"These pieces of legislation includes everything from European directives to health and safety and employment rules," said John Clayton, chief executive of the Essex Chambers of Commerce.